Whoooaa! Hold on there little mice! Oh the joys of miniature sized adventures.
Berry Happy
Berry Happy watercolor on paper
Dreaming of warm weather and sweet wild strawberries. Two things that make me Berry Happy indeed!
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker watercolor on paper
You may be familiar with the magical story of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker ballet. In my version however they are happily dancing together- and the Rat King certainly appears a bit more mouse-y.
Original: The Elves & The Shoemaker
Follow this link if you fancy a bit of fairy-tale-dreams-and-mousieness to grace your walls!
The Elves & The Shoemaker
The Elves & the Shoemaker 11"x11" watercolor on paper
In all of their story-telling-magicalness, The Bros. Grimm made a story about little elves that help a poor shoemaker. In my version the elves are mice, and the shoemaker a little boy who can't even afford any shoes for himself. And so he has fallen asleep with his work, barefoot, and unbeknownst to him these small helpers are scampering about his feet, helping him make his footwear, and the finest to be had!
Many thanks to Jacob and Willhelm Grimm for coining such an enchanting tale! Those brothers sure knew what they were doing... One of my favorite sibling collaborations!!
The Kindergardener Snake
The Kindergardener Snake 8.5"x11" watercolor on paper
Here it is! The finished illustration I painted and designed for a guide on the Python computer programming language written by Mike Driscoll.
Since the subject of the project revolved around a vintage school house, mice, and a friendly snake, I titled the finished piece: The Kindergardener Snake. I had so much fun creating this little school house scene for a book on learning and teaching yourself a modern language!
Book Cover: WIP #3
Almost done with this project, and I am very much loving the mice! I'll be posting the finished illustration for this fun book cover tomorrow!
Book Cover: WIP #2
The first soft, barely-there layers of color. I love this stage of the painting process!
Book Cover: WIP #1
The beginnings of a fun project I am working on. Painting mice and a friendly snake, for a book cover on Python computer programming!
More sneaky peeks coming soon!
Happy Valentine's Day: Froggie Went a-Courtin'
Froggie Went a-Courtin' 8"x10" watercolor & ink on paper
Miss Mousie has a pleasant surprise waiting for her outside of her front door. Froggie has come a calling for her hand, with a bouquet of waterlilies. It seemed so appropriate for a Valentine's theme, and being animals I couldn't help myself.
Wishing you a very Happy Valentine's Day- whether that means sharing the day with a sweetheart, a friend, family, a loyal pet, or extending some love to the natural world around us. Even if there might not be a frog outside your door with a bunch of posies, I hope today has a few special surprises for you as well! ♥ ❤
The Caroling Troupe
"The Caroling Troupe" watercolor & ink on paper
Spreading some much needed holiday cheer in a forest near you.
High Tea
High Tea 5"x7" watercolor on paper
I have had quite a few tea parties, and enjoy a ritual of tea every day - often more than twice! - and so I know precisely how my little mouse friend feels. Here is her miniature accompanying story:
Celia Mousekins has a great fondness for two treats, sugar cubes and Earl Grey tea. Here she has combined the two pleasures in one, and gives it a stir, as she enjoys a mouse sized version of High Tea.
Inking Work
The humble beginnings of a little mouse.
The Town Mouse & the Country Mouse: Dollhouse
The Town Mouse & the Country Mouse: Dollhouse 5"x7" Watercolor & gouache on paper
Oh to be a few inches tall, then you could crawl into the walls of a miniature dollhouse! That is where the town mouse makes his home in the city, within the toy house of the little children who live in the building he takes shelter in. It makes for very lavish mouse-size living quarters, and I am a bit jealous of them!
The country mouse seems to be a bit uneasy and awkward as she stands atop the table holding her china plate. A cup has fallen on the floor and shattered amid the hustle and bustle of city life. This is perhaps my favorite of the two paintings, mostly due to the awkward positions they take while sitting at the miniature toy table.
This Aesop's fable was such a fun thing to interpret, but they were also a present to my Mother for her birthday as we have always called her and her sister "The Country Mouse and the City Mouse". My mother is a country mouse, and I am as well. Although, I could be tempted to take up residence in a local dollhouse if one could be provided or I could find a drink similar to Alice's when she shrunk in Wonderland. Keep me posted if you come across anything of that nature!
The Town Mouse & the Country Mouse: Blackberries
The Town Mouse & the Country Mouse: Blackberries 5"x7" Watercolor & gouache on paper
I have been working on a companion set of paintings to illustrate the classic Aesop's Fable, The Town Mouse & the Country Mouse. The first one takes a peek though the briers and brambles into the modest abode of a little country field mouse. She has invited her well-to-do cousin, who lives in town, to visit her. He happens to arrive during blackberry season, and so he is just in time to partake in the art of preserving the harvest in the form of jams & jellies. Glancing over his shoulder, spoon in hand, he is looking to his cousin for instructions on the recipe.
I will admit that I am a bit of a country mouse myself. Nothing like having bare feet in the grass reading a book, or snacking on wild fruit.
In the next illustration (coming soon!) she will be visiting her cousin's home in town.
Mouses & Houses
On my plate this week: Mouses & Houses